Helene was born in Amneville, France on May 27, 1928, the only child of George and Eve Nuss Winkler. Helene was a charming and intelligent woman having graduated at the top of her class at the young age of 14. She worked as a secretary in the office of the steel plant where her father worked as a foreman.
Helene is preceded in death by her husband, Wateman Cleghon, whom she met when he was serving in the U.S. Army in France during World War II. They were married and had their only child, John, before Mr. Cleghon's unit was transferred to Germany. Helene left home with her six month old son and rode the train to Paris, France before sailing to America. From New York she traveled by train to Chattaroy and waited for her husband to return from the war.
They lived in Chattaroy where Helene worked for 25 years as the school secretary at Chattaroy Elementary. She moved to Huntington and for the last eight years made her home with her son, John (formerly of Chesapeake, Ohio) and daughter-in-law Jane Queen Cleghon (formerly of Milton, W.Va.).
Helene is survived by her loving grandson, John Cleghon Jr. (Ret. Sr. Chief USN) and his wife Amy of Washougal, Wash., and three step-granddaughters, Jenni (Terry) Turner of Knoxville, Tn., Julie Cooper Post, also of Knoxville, Tn. and Jillian Cooper of Barboursville, W.Va. Helene loved and enjoyed her great-grandchildren: Shane Moore, William Cohen, Hunter Cleghon, Gabby Turner, Jake Turner, Tristan Post, Bella Post, Mia Cooper, Marley Cooper and Tripp Mayo. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Joyce (John Paul) Cleghon Runyon and Mary Brunty Cleghon.
Chapmans Mortuary is caring for the family. Helene will be buried beside her husband at Mountain View Memory Gardens at Williamson, W.Va., on Fri., Jan. 9, 2015.
Condolences may be made online to the family at www.chapmans-mortuary.com
Helene was interesting, inspiring, brave and strong, the essence of grace and class with a remarkable quick wit. Once you met Helene you never forgot her. She was dedicated to her family and we feel honored to have been a part of her life story. Au revoir Mademoiselle Helene. Nous t'aimons.